• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Eight of the 47 victims of illegal recruitment yesterday filed charges of large scale estafa against La Castellana Councilor Donato Dumaguit and a woman recruiter, who promised their entry into the Philippine National Police in exchange for cash, before the Negros Occidental Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
Aside from Dumaguit, provincial police spokesperson PCapt. Judesses Catalogo yesterday said that Mary June delos Santos was the other respondent named in the complaints.
Catalogo also said that the La Castellana police is assisting other complainants in the documentation of their sworn affidavits, for the filing of similar cases against Dumaguit and delos Santos.
Regarding the alleged involvement of two policemen in the police recruitment scam, he added that only the names of two respondents were mentioned in the affidavits of the complainants.
A formal complaint was also filed by a 24-year-old teacher who also claimed to have paid P121,000 to delos Santos, in exchange for her entry into the Philippine Coast Guard, before the National Bureau of Investigation on September 19.
Based on the testimonies of the complainants, La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhumyla Nicor Mangilimutan disclosed that the suspects were also engaged in the recruitment for the Coast Guard, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bureau of Fire Protection, for recruits that may not be able to join the PNP.
The police aspirants paid amounts ranging from P247,000 to as much as P300,000 to the recruiters, for their entry to the PNP.
On the other hand, Mangilimutan said she was assured by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson of help for the victims.
Regarding the status of Dumaguit, who is her political party mate, Mangilimutan said he had been absent during the past two regular sessions of the La Castellana Sangguniang Bayan.
According to the mayor, the municipal council urged Dumaguit to attend the regular session, for him to sign resolutions and ordinances they had approved earlier.
If he is not guilty, he should face the allegations against him, Mangilimutan said, as she brushed aside claims of Dumaguit that he was being politically prosecuted.*
